INVERTEBRATE ALERT
This blog provides an informal forum for terrestrial invertebrate watchers to post recent sightings of interesting observations in the southern Vancouver Island region. Please send your sightings by email to Jeremy Tatum (tatumjb352@gmail.com). Be sure to include your name, phone number, the species name (common or scientific) of the invertebrate you saw, location, date, and number of individuals. If you have a photograph you are willing to share, please send it along. Click on the title above for an index of past sightings.The index is updated most days.

July 23 evening

2019 July 23 evening

 

   Thanks to Cheryl Hoyle who points out that one of Layle Munger’s pictures of a pentatomid bug nymph on this morning’s posting appears to be the same species as the bug nymph photographed and identified by Terry Thormin in the 2010 August 31 Invertebrate Alert, namely a green stink bug of the genus Chlorochroa.  We have now so labelled it.

  Layla Munger also sent a photograph of a bee, Oak Bay, July 22.  This has now been identified by Annie Pang and Lincoln Best as a male sweat bee Halictus rubicundus.


Halictus rubicundus  (Hym.: Halictidae) Layla Munger

 

   Bud Logan sends pictures of a horsefly probably of the genus Hybomitra.  As ever, we would be grateful if any viewer can identify it further.

Horse fly Hybomitra sp. (Dip.: Tabanidae)  Bud Logan

Horse fly Hybomitra sp. (Dip.: Tabanidae)  Bud Logan

Horse fly Hybomitra sp. (Dip.: Tabanidae)  Bud Logan

 

   Bud also sends a picture of an equally fierce-looking tachinid fly.  It seems to be either Hystricia abrupta  or the somewhat similar Paradejeania rutilioides.  If any viewer can shed some light on this, please let us know.

Parasitoidal fly (Dip.: Tachinidae)  Bud Logan

 

   Jeremy Tatum sends a picture of a caterpillar found on Gumweed at Island View Beach:


Cucullia montanae (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Tatum

 

   Jeff Gaskin tells us that Kirsten Mills saw one or more Branded Skippers at Cordova (Saanichton) Spit today.

 

   Jeremy Tatum checked the Buddleia bush at Finnerty Gardens (UVic) today where he saw five species of butterfly together on July 21.  Today there was just one Cabbage White and one Woodland Skipper.  But, to more than make up for lack of butterflies on that Buddleia bush, there was a magnificent Bedstraw Hawk Moth Hyles gallii hovering in front of the flowers with rapidly beating wings.  Very exciting!  That is the third Bedstraw Hawk Moth reported to Invertebrate Alert this year.

   One more photograph before we close shop for the day.  A snail enjoying a Welsh Poppy at Finnerty Gardens:


Cepaea nemoralis (Pul.:  Helicidae)  Jeremy Tatum